Folding hood



Aug. 30, 1938. F. H, Rr-:DFERN v2,128,849 v FOLDING Hoon Filed Nov. ll, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l NSN E. s. NWIIVHHHHHHM 'u Augao, 1.938.

F. H. REDFERN FOLDING HOOD Filed Nov. ll, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES FOLDING HOODv Francis Henry Redfern, Folkestone, England Application November 11, 1936, Serial No. 110,350 In Great Britain August 5, 1936 Claims.

This invention relates to folding hoods for motor and other road vehicles and for means of conveyance whether by land.. sea or air, hereinafter termed vehicles, of the type Acomprising 5 main pillars pivoted towards the rear of the vehicle and carrying at their ends cant rails (preferably formed by rear and front sections) the outer ends of which are connected, for example by a front cross-bar (from which the hood fabric extends to the back of the body) a suitable linkage or otherwise effecting the co-operative movements of the parts when the main pillars are caused to turn about their aligned pivots.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple and eiiicient hydraulic means by which the main pillars are turned in order to effect the erection or folding of the hood as the case may be.

A further object is vto provide such hydraulic 20 means to operate in both directions, that is, for

both the erection and the folding actions.

For this purpose the invention comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston and piston rod, ram or plunger assembly, which is pivotally connected ony the one hand to the frame, bodywork or chassis of the vehicle at a fixed point and on the other hand to the main pillar. Such an arrangement comes on each side of the vehicle or the like, each cylinder having means 30 of connection to a controlled supply of pressure fluid for the projection. and retraction of the piston rod, ram or plunger means from or into the cylinder.

The arrangement ofthe double-acting assembly is such that the pressure. fluid effects both the erection and collapsing of the hood and the operation takes place through piston means having differential areas on the two effective working faces thereof.

In addition, suitable valve or other control devices are providedior the erection and/or the collapse of the hood to bring it intothe required position at will.

According to another and important feature of the invention, in place, as has been usual, of pivoting the main pillars to the bodywork or coachwork of the vehicle or the like, the two -main pillars (one on each side) are connected to either a portion of the chassis itself (as distinct from the bodywork) or to a member connected to the chassis. This enables the hood structure as aframework without the covering or any other part of the bodywork being present to be assembled on the chassis independently of the bodywork, thus giving maximum rigidity.

According to more particular features of the invention, the hydraulic action takes place through a pump and suitable conduits (preferably in connection with a suitable supply reservoir) so that upon the operation of the pump, 5 according to the particular arrangement and the setting of the valves, the hood is erected, or collapsed, either action being cushioned if desired.

According to a still further and more particu- 10 lar feature of the invention, the hydraulic pump may be power-operated, for example by means of an electric motor driven by suitable means such as an accumulator which may be the accumulator of the vehicle, or by the engine of the l5 vehicle or otherwise.

In one particular structure according to this last mentioned feature, a rotary pump may be employed mounted through a suitably cushioned or other coupling directly (or through suitable 20 gearing) on the shaft of an electric motor, the pump and electric motor forming a unit and being carried by a bracket or other means in any suitable position, for example at the side of or below the chassis. Preferably the electric motor 25 circuit is switch controlled from the dash-board and obtains its power from the normal accumulator carried by the vehicle.

In a still further particular arrangement, handle, lever or like means are provided (for example 3o on the dash-board) for setting the valve controlling means into a position for erecting the hood or collapsing the hood; subsequent to such setting, the electric motor controlling the rotary pump being brought into circuit by suitable 35 switch means.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichz--Ld Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a 40 portion of the chassis of a motor road vehicle with a folding hood constructed according to one method of carrying the invention into effect 'pivotally attached thereto, the diagram showing the general installation and with thehood in the 45 erected position.

Fig. 2 shows a similar view to Fig. 1 but of a fragment of the parts shown in Fig. 1 and these latter in the collapsed position of the hood.

Fig. 3 shows a diagram of a portion of the in- 50 stallation shown in Fig. 1 but somewhat more detailed.

Fig. 4 shows a similar view to Fig.' 3 but of a modified method of carrying the invention into effect. 55

oted to the two sides of the vehicle, which have in turn pivoted thereto the rear sections of cantrails, the said cant-rails having hinged to the front thereof front cant-rail sections, these front cant-rail sections being connected together from side to side by a cross bar which when the hood is erected is adapted to be engaged by suitable cao-operative fastening means carried by the upper portion of the windscreen frame. Further, it is known to control the movements of the rear cant-rail section by extending this rearwardly and pivoting it to an anchoring link and to control the movements of the front cant-rail section through a front control link, this latter also controlling the movements of supplementary links for supporting a front stick or stretcher.

As shown in Fig. 1, it should be understood the structure illustrates the mechanism on one side of the vehicle, but (insofar as the' hood and its framework are concerned) this lstructure is repeated on the other side of the vehicle. In Fig. l, I0 is the main pillar pivoted at II and I2 the rear cant-rail section pivoted at I3 to the upper portion of the main pillar and having a rearward extension I4 pivoted to an anchoring link I5 having its main pivot at I6. To the rear cant-rail section is hinged at I1 a front cant-rail section I8, I9 being the front control link pivoted at 20 to an upper extension of the mainpillar ICI, the

vcontrol link I9 having pivoted thereto a link 2I in turn pivoted to another link 22 attached to the front cant-rail section, the links 2|, 22 supporting between them a transversely extending stickor stretcher 23. This latter, togetherwith a front cross bar 24, with a stick or stretcher 25 carried between the upper extensions of the pillars I0 and with similar sticks or stretchers 26 and 21 carried by extendable members 28 and 29 suitably pivoted, support between them in the usual manner the hood material 30, this latter being suitably attached to the body of the vehicle at the rear, for example at 3|.

Thus far, the general structure is known but it has been usual for the pivots II on the two sides to be pivoted to the bodywork or coachwork of the vehicle and according to a feature of the present invention these pivots II have their bearing in stiiened structures 32 forming an integral part of or attached to the chassis members 33. Thus it will be realized the whole framework of the hood can be built with and erected on the chassis without connection of any nature to the bodywork.

The front cant-rail links are connected to two links 34 and 35. The rst of these has its lower end pivoted at 36 to the front cant rail section' and its upper end to the link I9 at 31, whilst the second of these is pivoted at 38 to the rear cantrail section and its upper end to the pivot 31. Preferably, and as illustrated in the drawings, the two links 34 and 35 are of equal length and the distance of their pivots 36 from the hinge l1 is equal. However, this particular arrangement may be varied and the links may be of diierent lengths and their pivotal distance from the hinge I1 also may be varied. Further, in place of the pivot 31, which pivots the two links together,

being utilized as the pivotal connection for the front control links I9, such control links may be pivoted to either of the links in a position between the pivots l5 or 38 (as the case may be) and the pivot 31. Or again, in further constructions either of the links 34 or 35 may be' extended beyond the pivot 31 and the front control link I 9 pivotally connected to such extension.

The advantage given by the above-described construction is that the pull (or push) exerted by the link I9 on each side of the vehicle takes place with a substantially great leverage or moment with respect to the hinge I1 and further that the final closing action is braked. Additionally, whenin the collapsed position (as shown in Fig. 2) the two links 34 and 35 do not hinder the folding action. Moreover, owing to the greater leverage or moment and to the general construction, it is possible, without exerting undue force, for both the movements of erecting and collapsing to be effected by pushes or pulls, derived from the movements of the main pillars, but applied through the front control links I9.

According to the invention the erection or the collapsing of the hood, orv both, takes place by hydraulic means. This hydraulic means preferably comprises what may be termed an extensible strut formed by a cylinder and piston assembly. .Such an assembly may be disposed on one side-of the vehicle only or on both sides of the vehicle, but preferably the' latter, and the preferred mounting is as follows.

One end of said assembly is pivoted to the chassis and the other end to the main control pillar. Thus when such an assembly is extended the pivotal movement of the main pillar takes place to effect the erection of the hood whilst when it is contracted the pivoted main pillar is brought to the collapsed position and through its movements brings the hood to the collapsed position.

The hydraulic assembly as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 is made double-acting. In Fig. l it is shown in the extended position and cornprses a cylinder 42 pivoted to the chassis at 43 and having its ram or rod 44 pivotally connected at 45 to the main pivoted pillar I0. When in the extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, the erection of the hood is accomplished whilst in the contracted position as shown in Fig. 2 the hood is collapsed or lowered, the preliminary operation for this latter purpose being unfastening the fastening devices between the front cross bar 24 and the upper portion of the frame of the windscreen 46.

When in this condition, assuming the parts to be as shown in Fig. 1, then upon the ram or piston rod 44 being drawn into the cylinder 42, it causes the main pillars I0 to turn upon their pivots II. This imparts movement to the rear cant rail I2 which is guided by the anchor link I5 and further imparts movement to the front control links I9 which through the link connections 35 and 3.4 imparts vmovement to the front cant rail section I8, this latter also being subject to the movement imparted to it through the hinged connection I1 from the rear cant rail portion I2. As a result the parts are brought at the end of the collapsing action to the p0- sition shown in Fig. 2.

The reverse operation will be Ireadily understood and is caused by the projection of the piston rods 44 from their cylinders 42, which im parts movements to the main pillars I0, these in turn imparting movements to the other parts.

Towards the end of the erecting movement, owing to the position of the parts, a braking efffect on the nal lowering action (to the erected position) of the front cant rail sections takes place owing to the arrangement of the structure of the links 34 and 35.

The cylinder and piston assembly as used in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in section in Fig. 5. This comprises a cylinder 41 having an end 48 with an inlet 49 and trunnions constituting the pivot The other end is comprised by a cap 50 with a bore or bearing for the piston rod 5| guarded by a gland 52, the rod 5| terminating in an eye or the like 53 for the pivot 45 attached to the main pillar lll. The cap 50 has an inlet' 54 for fluid.

The inner end of the piston rod is formed or provided with a piston 55 having a gland 56. This latter preferably is expansible so that in one direction it can actas a seal Whilst in the other direction it need not seal.

As will be understood, the surface areas of the piston 55 are unequal. On the one side the area is that of the internal cross section of the cylinder 41 whilst on the other side (owing to the presence of the piston rod 5|) it isof less area, and can be made of half thearea of the other side.

Consequently in operation if the pressure iluid is admitted through the inlet 49 and through the aperture 54, it operates on the two sides of the piston, but owing to the greater area on the one side, although the pressure on the two sides is equal, the effective resultant force projects the piston rod 5| to cause the erection of the hood. Owing, however, to the equality of pressure on the two sides of the piston, the seal 56 is not` necessary and by the said equalization of pressure the channel-shaped sealing member 56 is not expanded, but may even permit leakage or passage from one side of the piston to the other.

When, however, the hood is to be brought to the collapsed position, then the pressure fluid is admitted only through the aperture 54 on to the portion of the piston of less area and the liquid on the other side of the piston is free to flow out through the apertured inlet 49. Thus the pressures on the two sides of the piston are unequal but owing to the disposition of the channel section sealingmember 56, the pressure on the side of the piston of less area effectively expands this sealing member to prevent leakage. Further it should be understood that if, as has been assumed, the effective area on one side of thc piston is half that on the other side, in the particular circumstances of operation described, the effort for moving the hood to the erected position or for collapsing the hood is equal.

A method by which the pressure fluid (such as oil) is fed to the cylinder to attain the objects just described is illustrated in Fig. 3 and also (to some extent) in Fig. 1.

In these figures, 51 is a two-way rotary pump driven by an electric motor 58 in the circuit of an accumulator 59 which circuit also includes a switch 6D. 6| is the outlet from the pump and 62 the inlet, this latter communicating with a supply reservoir 63, 64 being a pipe branched between the supply 63 and the inlet 62. This branch 64 has therein a valve 65 and on the other side passes, by a conduit 66, to the apertured inlet 49.

valve 65 so that the two valves 65 and 66 are controllable from a common handle 69 in such manner that when the one valve is closed the other is open. On the other side of the valve 68 a conduit 10 is arranged which is branched on to a conduit 1| leading from the outlet 6| of the pump and communicating with the inlet 54 of the cylinder 41.

As indicated in Fig. l, the switch 60 and the handle 69 are located on the dash or fascia board f the vehicle whilst the supply reservoir 63 comes beneath the bonnet, the accumulator 59 being the usual accumulator utilized on a vehicle, the electric motor 58 and pump 51 being arranged as a unit and attached in a suitable position to a side frame 33 of the chassis.

The operation will be readily understood; assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 2, if it is desired to erect the hood the valve 68- is opened and the valve 65 closed. Upon closing the switch 60 the pump supplies pressure fluid from the outlet 6| through the conduit 16 to the inlet 54 in communication with the side of the piston having the smaller area, this pressure being indicated by the dotted arrow 12 (Fig. 5). The pressure uidalso from the outlet 6| passes through the conduit 10 through the opened valve 68 to the conduit 66. From this conduit 66 it cannot pass by the valve 65, which is closed, but passes to the apertured inlet 49 which admits the pressure fluid to the surface of the piston having the larger area, this pressure being indicated by the dotted arrow 13. This, as before explained, causes the movement of the piston and piston rod to effect the erection of the hood, the action taking place in preferred arrangements on each side of the vehicle.

To bring the hood to the collapsed condition, the valve 68 is closed and the valve 65 opened, the circuit of the electro-motor being again closed by the switch 60. This causes the pressure fluid, as before, to pass by the conduit 1| to the inlet 54 into the cylinder to press upon the portion of the piston of smaller diameter, this pressure being represented by the full-line arrow 14. The pressure fluid, however, cannot pass back through the conduit 1U and through the valve 68 as this latter is closed. However, the iluid in front of the portion of the piston of larger area is not under pressure and is free to flow out through the apertured inlet 49 into .the conduit 66. It cannot pass the valve 68 which is closed, but it can pass` the valve 65 which is open. It thus enters the conduit 64, from whence it is free to pass to the inlet 62 of the pump and to the reservoir 63. The fullline arrow 15 to the right of the piston in Fig. 5

tached on the one hand the flange of the motor 58 and on the other hand the flange of an aligned pump 51, the latter being axially coupled with the motor shaft through a fiexible coupling 11. In some cases in place of the rotary pump being directly connected to the shaft of the electric motor, it may be connected thereto through suitable reduction or other gearing.

In place of a power pumping system, a hand pumping system may be utilized, whether the piston and cylinder assembly, or assemblies, are

single or double-acting.

Fig. 4 indicates a hand pumping assembly where 18 is a hand pump operable from a lever 19. This may be detachable and fitted into position where required. For example, the pump may be located beneath a suitable apertured oorboard capable of having the handle or extension 1S iitted therethrough to be operated through a suitable stroke to actuate the pump. The pump 18 is in connection with a supply reservoir and the installation includes a valve 8| capable of being set into various positions for permitting the pressureuid to be supplied to the cylinder and piston assembly as may be required. In this arrangement again, the valve assembly if required may be set from the dash or fascia board.

If required, spring means may supplement the action of the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies. For example, a compression spring can be arranged on the exterior of the cylinder and co-operate with an abutment thereon and with an abutment on the piston rod, so that the compression of the spring assists the preliminary erecting action and brakes the final collapsing action. Again, in some cases, the piston may include therein a spring adapted to project inwardly and cushion itself against the lower end of the cylinder towards the end of the collapsing action. lIn this way it would cushion the said action and store stress to assist the preliminary erecting action.

The invention is not limited to the precise forms or details of construction described as these may be varied to suit particular cases. For example, in the hydraulic systems any usual safety or relief valves may be incorporated in any part of the system they may be desired; or again, in connection with the power drive slipping or other clutches may be incorporated automatically to come into operation when the load passes a predetermined limit. This eiect may also be assured, if desired, by making the switch controlling the running of the electric motor of the push variety so thatit only operates when the hand presses thereon.

Again, as a further main modification, although the invention has been particularly described as relating to a cant-rail divided into two portions, it should be understood that Some or all of the features of the intention can be utilized with a cant-rail having a single section or having more than two sections. In this way the invention is rendered suitable for small singledoor vehicles or larger vehicles of the limousine variety.

What I claim .and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:-

1, Folding hoods for vehicles which have main pillars, comprising extensible and retractable hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies on each side of the vehicle each pivoted at one end to a main pillar of the hood and at the other end to the chassis of the vehicle, each piston and cylinder assembly being double-acting and having at each end of the cylinder inlet means for pres-I sure uid, the said inlet means being in connection with a conduit system including a pump, a reservoir for fluid and controlling valve means, .the two surfaces of the piston having different Iareas and the valve controlling means of such nature that either the smaller surface of the piston or both surfaces are available to the pressure uid according to the valve setting, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. Folding hoods for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston is provided with a one-way sealing gland adapted to seal the action in. one direction and to permit the passage of pressure uid from one surface of the piston to the other when pressure is applied to both surfaces of the piston, for the purposes set forth.

3. Folding hoods for Vehicles as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston is providedwith a one-way sealing glandadapted to seal the action in one direction and to permit the passage of pressure fluid from one surface of the piston to the other when pressure is applied to both surfaces of the piston, and manual means for operating the pump, for the purposes set forth.

4. Folding hoods for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston is provided with a one-way sealing gland adapted to seal the action in one direction and to permit the passage of pressure fluid from one surfaceof the piston to the other when pressure is applied to both surfaces of the piston, and power means for operating the pump, for the purposes set forth.

5. Folding hoods for vehicles as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston is provided with a one-Way sealing gland adapted to seal the action in one direction and to permit the passage of pressure fluid from one surface of the pistonvto the other when pressure is applied to both surfaces of the piston, and in which the pump is a rotary pump having a shaft directly coupled through a cushioning coupling to the spindle of an electric motor, for the purposes set forth.

FRANCIS HENRY REDFERN. 

